Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-05
KILLED ~ INDIANS.
The Massacre Of Capt. Bob Billups
and His Men.

Banner Hatoiman.
in the parlor of the hotel IN this old
Town are two portrsits-one OF a lovely
4ady, the otbe' of a cOurlly man, in the
prime of life. In the background to the
later picture are severa! hunters and a
pack of mounds, evidently expressive OF
tue taste of the subject q the picture.
He II ed in the fashion OF more than
half a century ago, with rUttled-bOsOm
shirt and stlt and cramped neckwear.
You could see, however, in the expression
Df the face and the Keen glance of the
eagle eve courage and hrmuess-charac-
teristics necessary in the pioneers OF our
great country.
/ was so impressed with the picture
that felt there must be history con-
nected with it, and called mine host Dr..
Billups) INTO the room. when he sat down
and gave 1t me.
That" ne replied. lis a picture OF my
'ather, Capt. Boa Billups, While the lady
Is my mother. NV father was massacred
VIXEN | was 10 years Of age--in 1885 but
/ have AS vivid a recollection OF the hor-
rible event as if it were but yesterday"
"Massac"ed!" | exclaimed, "what do
yOI meanT'
He was killed by the Indians" was
the reply, sat Sheppard's Landing, on the
ChaltahOOchee river. We were living IN
Of our State and also Alabama across the
river was pretty thickly settled Oy In
lians, but tor "A long time they had been
q uiet. Haeu came the Outbreak n '36,
mat resulted in the burning Of the R0a-
nCaAe. on the ChaLtahoochee. Terror
spread throughout the country, and then
came TO the ears of the whites fresh
stories of burnings and deeds of bloodshed
every day. My father, together with all
me other white men, sent their
families out Of danger. l have
distinct recollection of my last parting
with him, and our journey. The burning
Of Roanoke intiamed the whites so thor
)ughly that every man who could Shout
Ier gun took the field, or rather woods,
for The country was then wilderness, to
punish the red devils, My father, with
.hirty-fi other men, became so in
luriated that they did not wait for the
arrival of the regular soldiers, but started
put with their shOtguns and rifles to
trail aud punish the Indians. My father
had considerable experience in warfare,
having been in the war OF 1872 and also
81 several Indian campaigns. The party
soon struck the trail OF the saVaGes, tor
the whole country was then covered
with a dUnse growth of rank grass, and
the passage OF any man or animal through
1t left a plainly defined path. The In
dams were loaded down with plumber, so
pursuers rapidly gained on them, The
whites were on horseback, ana had With
them enough provisions to last sew
Jays In going down th q ,'gia bank
Df the Chattahoochee they cam to place
called Sheppard;s landing. The river
was on one side, while on the other was
one of those impenetrable sWamp~ or la
goons so common in southwest Georgia.
The point OF land between these two
formed peninsula with very
narrow strip of firm ground as
mouth, The trail of the savages led
into this tongue of land, and there the
gallant horsemen pushed. Capt. BiIlups
advised his men to exercise the greatest
caution, or they would be ambuscaded
and killed, but as it was a volunteer force
there was no discipline among them.
They had every confidence in their
proves and the greatest contempt Tor the
Indians. so they recklessiy passed into
sue trap. After riding short distance.
the party dismOunted and decided on
rest, as they now thought that the enemy
could not escape and they were thorough
w exhausted with the long and fatigu-
ing ride. Again did Capt. Billups beg
his men not to stop until a better place
for defense was reached, in the event
taat they were attacked. He explained
10 them that they were IN most exposed
locality, while all around and in close
would be impossible to dislodce an at
fackIug enemy. But the men ridiculed
the IDEA OF an attack, and dismOunted,
took off the saddles from their tired
beasts, and were lolling around the camp;
some eating, laughing and chatting, while
others were asleep. in the meantime the
Stealthy saYageS were preparing to
slaughter the game that had 50 lnnOcently
walked into the very trap they had set for
Ihem. They crept back 10 the point where
the whites had entered the peninsu and
placed a strong guard there that could
not be forced. others then surrounded
the camp OF the whites, hid in the swamps
and behind trees, and at signal poured
most murderous and CALLING fire in the
ranks OF the whites. In an instant the
widest confusion relgned, Several of
Cant. Bllups' men fell at tn first fire.
The others tried to make barTicades of
their horses, and return the IRE,
but not an Indian could be seen.
The only signs of their presence
were clouds OF white smoke that came
from behind trees and bushes, then fol-
loved by the thud OF the uneuIng bullet
as it struck some white man or beast.
Capt. Billups made an attempt to lead his
men out OF the trap and. mounting their
horses, tried TO torce passage back 10 the
open land. But az we sta red, the only
point ofeXit was now guarded by saw
ages. who met me remnant OF THIS
doomed band Of whites with their war
Whoops and perfect hail OF bullets.
Capt. Billups soon fell, snOt dead in his
tracks. This spot then became per-
feet slaughter pen. From their
places of concealnent the Indians
picked of one bv one the
whites, without sustaining any loss
themselves. Of this devoted band only
TWO or three men escaped alive to tell the
Story OF the massacre, and to lead
company of soldiers to the battle-ground.
now strewn with The bodies of their COM
rades. NOT an Indian was to he seen.
After mutllating the bodies of their vic
tins, they succeeded in crossing the river
and escaped ali punishment. The bodies
OF Capt. B!iups and his men were col
lccted and buried in Que grave. Their
fate was one OF the most horrible Incl
dents connected with the settlement OF
georgia.